Titans Insider » Mark Joneshttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans
Titans news and analysis from Tennessean.comSun, 16 Mar 2014 15:26:22 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.6Titans to release Mark Joneshttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2010/05/25/titans-inform-returner-jones-of-release/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2010/05/25/titans-inform-returner-jones-of-release/#commentsTue, 25 May 2010 19:04:52 +0000JIM WYATT, The Tennesseanhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/?p=6448The Titans plan to release veteran receiver/return man Mark Jones, who is expected to hit the waiver wire later in the day. Jones, recovering from surgery to repair a nerve in his neck, had not taken part in offseason workouts. He’s also been dealing with a hamstring injury.

“With the young guys on the roster and the depth chart, we just felt we’d give Mark an opportunity to catch on some place else,’’ Coach Jeff Fisher said. “With the injuries and everything, it just didn’t work out.’’

“There are several guys out there that can help us,” Coach Jeff Fisher said on Monday. “We’re just trying to see if they fit on the roster and if they have the experience to get it done.”

Fisher said receiver Mark Jones, who was cut by the Titans on Sept. 5, would be considered. Other options could include former Raiders cornerback Justin Miller, former Titans defensive back Tuff Harris, or other cornerbacks with return abilities.

Mouton fumbled a kickoff and a punt against the Jets, who converted both recoveries into touchdowns. Ringer, who had been handling kickoff returns, didn’t have one against the Jets. Rookie Jason McCourty fielded three kickoffs.

“When you bring in young players at different positions, for example, you really don’t know until you play them,” Fisher said. “Some come in and — like the Mike Roos’, Michael Griffins and Chris Johnsons — they play well. Other players, it takes a little bit longer and Ryan sees things out there that he hasn’t seen before.

“ … I’ve got confidence in him. I know eventually he’ll be a good returner, if we need to call upon him. He may be a good returner this week. I don’t know.”

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2009/09/28/titans-searching-for-return-man/feed/0Mark Jones fails physical in Carolinahttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2009/09/07/mark-jones-fails-physical-in-carolina/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2009/09/07/mark-jones-fails-physical-in-carolina/#commentsTue, 08 Sep 2009 00:41:54 +0000EDITORhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/?p=1816Return man Mark Jones, released by the Titans on Friday, apparently won’t be rejoining the Panthers. The latest from the Associated Press:

The Carolina Panthers may have to use an inexperienced, fumble-prone duo returning punts in the season opener. Attempts to bring back last year’s return man, Mark Jones, were derailed Monday when he failed a physical. Jones was cut by Tennessee after being slowed by a hamstring injury in the preseason.

The Panthers were looking for an upgrade after Kenny Moore and Captain Munnerlyn struggled fielding punts in exhibition games. Munnerlyn is a rookie, while Moore is a second-year pro who has never appeared in a regular-season game.

Rookie Mike Goodson is expected to return kickoffs Sunday against Philadelphia. The Panthers released their return man from 2007, Ryne Robinson, last week.

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2009/09/07/mark-jones-fails-physical-in-carolina/feed/0More ex-Titans on movehttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2009/09/07/more-ex-titans-on-move/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2009/09/07/more-ex-titans-on-move/#commentsMon, 07 Sep 2009 16:23:11 +0000JIM WYATT, The Tennesseanhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/?p=1771It looks like return man Mark Jones, released by the Titans over the weekend, might soon land on his feet. According to a report in North Carolina, Jones is expected to sign with the Panthers after he undergoes a physical.

His agent, Brian Levy, said on Monday morning no deal is currently in place.

Jones played for the Panthers last season and signed with the Titans in March.

One thing is official, however: the Steelers have added former Titans safety Tuff Harris to their eight-man practice squad. The Titans released Harris over the weekend.

Also, the Jets have released punter A.J. Trapasso just a day after claiming him off waivers. The team opted to go with a veteran punter instead.

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2009/09/07/more-ex-titans-on-move/feed/0Titans keep things under wrapshttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2009/09/03/titans-keep-things-under-wraps/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2009/09/03/titans-keep-things-under-wraps/#commentsFri, 04 Sep 2009 04:07:02 +0000DAVID CLIMER, THE TENNESSEANhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/?p=1688For the duration of training camp and through five preseason games, the Titans’ greatest accomplishment has been maintaining patience.

This is a veteran team, and as such there was little to gain during the preseason.

“You just want to get through the preseason and hopefully stay healthy,” said defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch. “We did that.”

And this from linebacker David Thornton: “I like where we are right now.”

Yes, there is an air of confidence surrounding this team. Despite some struggles by the No. 1 offense, there is no sense of panic. In an attempt to keep things under wraps entering the season-opener at Pittsburgh next Thursday, offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger was careful not to put too much out there for opponents to analyze.

“You try to give them enough to be successful,” Heimerdinger said earlier in the preseason, “but you don’t want to show some of the things you’ll use in the season.”

Mission accomplished. The Titans certainly kept their offense under wraps.

But one thing they couldn’t hide was rookie wide receiver Dominique Edison. The sixth-round pick out of Stephen F. Austin had a solid training camp and on Thursday he caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from Vince Young and a 31-yard TD throw from Patrick Ramsey.

At one point, Titans officials probably were hoping to keep things quiet about Edison so they possibly could stash him on the practice squad. But the word’s out. Another NFL team would pick him up before the Titans could designate him for the practice squad.

Asked if he thought his five catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns secured a roster spot, Edison said: “I hope so but it is not up to me. All I can do is go out and control what I do. I felt like I went out and am going to make a hard decision for them.”

There will be some tough calls. Mark Jones might have locked down the kickoff and punt return role, which could thin the herd at wide receiver. Jones can play wideout in a pinch, although his biggest impact in five previous NFL seasons has been in the return game.

Either Paul Williams or Lavelle Hawkins could be the odd man out at wide receiver.

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2009/09/03/titans-keep-things-under-wraps/feed/0Injury report from Tuesday’s practicehttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2009/09/01/injury-update-from-tuesday/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2009/09/01/injury-update-from-tuesday/#commentsTue, 01 Sep 2009 22:36:26 +0000JIM WYATT, The Tennesseanhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/?p=1633Titans defensive tackle Jason Jones returned to the practice field on Tuesday for the first time since suffering a foot injury in the preseason opener against the Bills.

Tackle David Stewart practiced after missing two games with a knee injury. He continues to wear a brace.

Cornerback Nick Harper was also back after missing Saturday’s game in Cleveland because of what Coach Jeff Fisher called “soreness.”

These players did not practice:

Returner Mark Jones (stinger)

Cornerback Ryan Mouton (ankle)

Linebacker Josh Stamer (groin)

Tight end Jared Cook (ankle)

Receiver Nate Washington (hamstring)

Cook was out of the walking boot he’d worn since getting hurt in the Cleveland game. Mouton ran on a side field. Washington caught passes from a JUGGS machine and walked.

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2009/09/01/injury-update-from-tuesday/feed/0Mark Jones ready for second chancehttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2009/09/01/returner-jones-ready-for-2nd-chance/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2009/09/01/returner-jones-ready-for-2nd-chance/#commentsTue, 01 Sep 2009 22:24:22 +0000JIM WYATT, The Tennesseanhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/?p=1629Return man Mark Jones knows he didn’t make a very good impression in his Titans debut on Saturday night against the Browns. After missing the first three preseason games because of a hamstring injury, he fumbled and averaged just 18.3 yards on four kickoff returns.

“I just need to relax and calm down. I was a little too anxious to try and show something,” Jones said. “The fumble … was hard to swallow. That wasn’t me. That is not what I am about, putting the ball on the ground. I just need to play like I know how to play.”

Jones is expected to get another shot on Thursday against the Packers — he said he would be the first returner on punts and kicks. Yet he missed practice on Tuesday after seeing a doctor because of a stinger he suffered against the Browns. Jones said he lost feeling in his hands after a hit on his final return, but tests were negative.

With roster cuts looming, and the Titans needing someone to step up in the return games, the former Panther, Buccaneer and Giant knows he needs to show something.

“What I did last year was in the past. They are going off what I do this year and I know that all they saw was last week,” Jones said. “So I need to put together some good returns.”

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2009/09/01/returner-jones-ready-for-2nd-chance/feed/0Big opportunity for Mark Joneshttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2009/08/29/big-opportunity-for-mark-jones/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2009/08/29/big-opportunity-for-mark-jones/#commentsSat, 29 Aug 2009 23:10:10 +0000JIM WYATT, The Tennesseanhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/?p=1557CLEVELAND It’s a big night for veteran Mark Jones, who could go a long way toward earning a roster spot with his play against the Browns.

Jones sat out the first thee preseason games because of a hamstring injury. He’ll not only return punts and kickoffs tonight, he’ll get a chance to play receiver.

If Jones plays well, he has a great chance to stick when it comes time for the roster to be trimmed down to 53 players next week.

The Titans signed Jones in the offseason to replace Chris Carr. When he was injured, no one else really stepped up and ran away with the job at punt or kick returner. One candidate, Chris Davis, was cut. Another, Ryan Mouton, suffered an ankle injury.

While running back Javon Ringer had a nice kickoff returns against the Cowboys, I think Coach Jeff Fisher would prefer an experienced veteran back there at Heinz Field when the regular season begins on Sept. 10.

If Jones proves he can help as a receiver, it’ll be a huge bonus for the Titans.

Center Kevin Mawae’s return to work was the highlight of Tuesday’s practice. The 16th-year pro was taken off the Physically Unable to Perform list and practiced for the first time since suffering an elbow injury in December.

Mawae’s availability for the season opener at Pittsburgh on Sept. 10 is unclear. For that matter, so is his availability for the last two preseason games. But Tuesday was a start.

As for receiver Nate Washington, he’s going to be out a while because of a right hamstring injury. Just how long remains to be seen. At this point, if I had to place a bet, my money would be on Mawae being ready for the opener and not Washington.

Mawae came back on a good day. It was one of the most intense sessions of training camp. Here are some of the highlights:

Running back Chris Henry and linebacker Rocky Boiman got the juices going early. Following a one-on-one blocking drill, they exchanged punches and Boiman promised to meet Henry again later in practice. Did he keep his promise? Keep reading.

Safety Chris Hope was one of the defensive stars of practice. He broke up passes on back-to-back throws by quarterback Kerry Collins, the first one to Kenny Britt, the second to tight end Alge Crumpler.

Quarterback Vince Young connected with receiver Dominique Edison for a touchdown.

Collins answered later with some nice throws. He connected with Justin Gage for a score, and later hooked up with Britt, who made a juggling touchdown catch. Collins connected with Gage again on a beautiful ball.

Mark Jones caught punts, which wasn’t too exciting. But it made me think: If Jones makes one nice return in the upcoming preseason games and takes care of the football, he probably assures himself a roster spot. Coach Jeff Fisher wants a returner he can trust, and Jones has experience. A second after I thought that, however, Jones dropped a punt with Fisher watching.

The practice ended with fireworks, providing the answer to the tease above. Yes, Boiman delivered. He blew up Henry on a goal line drill, which got the defense and the fans roaring. It was one of the biggest hits of camp. And while rookie linebacker Gerald McRath, who was also in the middle of it and did the most chest-pounding, it was Boiman who made the hit heard across town. Only a fool could’ve missed it. Count me as a fool. I initially had McRath with the tackle, but was reminded by everyone on Wednesday morning, including linebackers coach Dave McGinnis, it was in fact Boiman, who made good on his promise in a big way. What’s funny, though, is on Wednesday morning Henry told me neither player got a square hit on him, and that it sounded worse than it was. It’s definitely up for debate in the locker room. The final verdict: Boiman blew him up. I saw the tape on Wednesday afternoon.

The offense ended the day with bragging rights, however. On the next goal line play, Young faked the handoff and scored on a bootleg, surprising everyone.

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2009/08/25/tuesday-practice-observations/feed/0Return man Jones: This is the weekhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2009/08/23/returner-jones-this-is-the-week/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2009/08/23/returner-jones-this-is-the-week/#commentsSun, 23 Aug 2009 23:55:06 +0000JIM WYATT, The Tennesseanhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/?p=1398The waiting is almost over for Mark Jones and the Titans. On Sunday, the return man the Titans signed this offseason declared himself a go for Saturday’s preseason game at Cleveland. He missed the first three preseason contests because of a hamstring injury.

Mark Jones (File)

“This is the week. This is definitely the week,’’ Jones said. “I am feeling a lot better. … I’m anxious. I just want to get out there and have fun again. I’m tired of watching from the sideline. Guys are doing some good things and now I am ready to show what I can do.’’

The sixth-year pro was with the Panthers last season, when he averaged 11.4 yards per punt return and 24.0 yards per kickoff return. The Titans added Jones, a free agent, in hopes he could replace Chris Carr, who signed with the Ravens. But Jones suffered a hamstring injury the first day of training camp and didn’t return to practice until last week.

“We have seen what he can do in the past but we would clearly like to see him do it in person,’’ Coach Jeff Fisher said. “He has played in the league, he has returned before. He is just been dealing with a hamstring.’’

The Titans would love for Jones to make a decision for them. A number of players were given a chance as return men in the first three preseason games, but none has the experience of Jones, a former University of Tennessee player.

Although rookie running back Javon Ringer had a 51-yard kickoff return against Dallas, Jones said he thinks both jobs are wide open. “I just want to go out there and make smart decisions, and return it,’’ he said. “I’m ready to go.’’